First Online: 04 December 2015Received: 23 June 2014Accepted: 01 December 2015

Abstract

BackgroudCytokine response against hepatitis C virus HCV is likely to determine the natural course of infection as well as the outcome of antiviral treatment. However, the role of particular cytokines remains unclear. The current study analyzed activation of cytokine response in chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing standard antiviral treatment.

MethodsTwenty-two patients were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Twenty-six different cytokine transcripts were measured quantitatively in peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMC before and after therapy and correlated with therapy outcome as well as with clinical and liver histological data.